FitBit Monitor - Has anyone purchased one of these?
K_M_Rodriguez
Posts: 20
FitBit is worn on your wrist and tracks your 'active' minutes... steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, stairs climbed and also tracks your sleep patterns. Is anyone here using the device? What do you think about it? From what I understand it connects to MyFitnessPal also. - - and one of the reasons I am coming back to this forum after trying a couple others recently.
Doc says that I have to eat 500 cals per day PLUS the amount of calories that I burn everyday. Which is difficult for me to calculate at times... walking and running is easy to calculate, heavy gardening and housework is more difficult.
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Can you tell me your thoughts on this product if you purchased one. Do you connect up to MyFitnessPal with it?
Here is a link if anyone is interested. http://www.fitbit.com/force.
The doc suggested it, but the reviews I have been reading are a bit wishy-washy.
Would really appreciate some feedback from peeps here. Thanks for reading!
Doc says that I have to eat 500 cals per day PLUS the amount of calories that I burn everyday. Which is difficult for me to calculate at times... walking and running is easy to calculate, heavy gardening and housework is more difficult.
.
Can you tell me your thoughts on this product if you purchased one. Do you connect up to MyFitnessPal with it?
Here is a link if anyone is interested. http://www.fitbit.com/force.
The doc suggested it, but the reviews I have been reading are a bit wishy-washy.
Would really appreciate some feedback from peeps here. Thanks for reading!
0
Replies
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I have the Fitbit Zip and after looking at all the other incarnations of Fitbit I still think it's my best choice. I've heard a lot of people say the wrist models over estimate your activities plus I tuck the Zip into my bra and no one has to even know I'm wearing it. It doesn't track sleep patterns or stairs climbed but those aren't things I really care about anyway. It synchs with MFP and the Fitbit site to the Dashboard, tells me how many steps I've taken and what it estimates my daily burned calories to be.0
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The Fitbit Force hasn't yet been released - I think they'll start shipping them within the next six weeks though.
I have a Fitbit One and I am sort of an evangelist about it. My mother has now lost an Ultra and three Ones (though the latest One has resurfaced!), so if you're prone to misplacing keys and the like, consider looking into the wristband style.
The Fitbit is more accurate than I was prepared to believe with regards to calculating BMR/TDEE. Faithfully logging everything you eat (calories in) and watching your daily caloric burn via Fitbit (calories out) is a great way to keep yourself on track.
The Fitbit goes in for gamification in a big way, so for every milestone you hit (10 thousand steps in a day, fifteen, twenty, twenty five, thirty, etc) you will get a badge. Ditto for flights of stairs climbed (if you get a tracker that measures that) or weight lost (if you set a loss goal).
You can also have friends on Fitbit and it will keep updating weekly Leaderboards, showing your weekly steps against your friends'. If you have a competitive streak, this REALLY is a great feature.
Fitbit and MFP do sync - Fitbit has its own food database, but it's nowhere as good as MFP's, so if you connect the accounts MFP will send your caloric intake to Fitbit and Fitbit will send back how many exercise calories you have netted if you have that function set up.
(Note: the sync between the Fitbit and MFP servers is actually down right now)
Anyway, yes - I have it, I love it, I find it INCREDIBLY helpful as a daily activity level monitor, and my best friend just hit the "60 lbs lost" mark by combining MFP and Fitbit.0 -
I got one a few weeks back and am VERY disappointed that it does not track my ellipitical steps. I can't do treadmill due to bad knees and stress fractures in both feet. I also stopped wearing it at night as it was syncing to my iPhone multiple times at night and my phone would buzz and wake me. Also disappointed that it won't just log the sleep time and sync in the AM if I turn the phone off. I also feel it wildly overestimates calories burned. If I was buring HALF the calories it tells me I am, I would have met my goal weeks ago. Thinking about selling on eBay.0
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In for the reviews as thinking of asking for one as a Christmas pressie
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I got one a few weeks back and am VERY disappointed that it does not track my ellipitical steps. I can't do treadmill due to bad knees and stress fractures in both feet. I also stopped wearing it at night as it was syncing to my iPhone multiple times at night and my phone would buzz and wake me. Also disappointed that it won't just log the sleep time and sync in the AM if I turn the phone off. I also feel it wildly overestimates calories burned. If I was buring HALF the calories it tells me I am, I would have met my goal weeks ago. Thinking about selling on eBay.
How much is it telling you?0 -
I have a zip and love it!0
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You might have it setup wrong if you think it's inaccurate. At first I bought it as an experiment to see if it was any good. I've had mine for over a month now and the calories burnt are pretty darn accurate based on what I already knew of my BMR/TDEE. For things like biking or the elliptical, you can log those manually in the Dashboard.I got one a few weeks back and am VERY disappointed that it does not track my ellipitical steps. I can't do treadmill due to bad knees and stress fractures in both feet. I also stopped wearing it at night as it was syncing to my iPhone multiple times at night and my phone would buzz and wake me. Also disappointed that it won't just log the sleep time and sync in the AM if I turn the phone off. I also feel it wildly overestimates calories burned. If I was buring HALF the calories it tells me I am, I would have met my goal weeks ago. Thinking about selling on eBay.
Whether your phone is on or off, it should still record your sleep patterns. Again, sounds like you have setting issues.0 -
Wow - thanks for all the information so quickly. That helps me tremendously.
Yes, the newest FitBit that you wear on your wrist doesn't ship for several more weeks, and the one I had my eye on.
And I did see/find the APPS crumbs on MFP site about 2 minutes after I posted this thread.
Anything you can think to add, let me know. I do need one that is waterproof.... well, water resistant. I should have mentioned that in my OP.
Thank you all again for getting back so quickly!0 -
I understand there is a helpline too?0
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I have a FitBit One and it has been very useful in helping me track my activity level. I think it’s pretty accurate but even if it’s not 100% correct it helps makes me more aware of my activity. It syncs well with MFP. It also tracks my steps on the elliptical.
I chose the FitBit One because I can clip it to my bra and nobody knows I’m wearing it. (Plus I didn’t want the wrist version to interfere with wearing my bracelets and watches.)
I’m very pleased with the device.0 -
My husbnd and I got fitbits for Christmas last year. We wear them regularly and try to get our 10000 steps daily. I have found it motivating to wear it. It may not be precise to the calorie, but it does keep pretty good track of whether or not we have been moving or sitting around too much.
Mine is now defunct - it went through the washer and dryer
I plan to replace it. 0 -
My husbnd and I got fitbits for Christmas last year. We wear them regularly and try to get our 10000 steps daily. I have found it motivating to wear it. It may not be precise to the calorie, but it does keep pretty good track of whether or not we have been moving or sitting around too much.
Mine is now defunct - it went through the washer and dryer I plan to replace it.
I have heard of people washing their Fitbits and getting a replacement from the company - worth a shot?0 -
The Fitbit Force hasn't yet been released - I think they'll start shipping them within the next six weeks though.
I have a Fitbit One and I am sort of an evangelist about it. My mother has now lost an Ultra and three Ones (though the latest One has resurfaced!), so if you're prone to misplacing keys and the like, consider looking into the wristband style.
The Fitbit is more accurate than I was prepared to believe with regards to calculating BMR/TDEE. Faithfully logging everything you eat (calories in) and watching your daily caloric burn via Fitbit (calories out) is a great way to keep yourself on track.
The Fitbit goes in for gamification in a big way, so for every milestone you hit (10 thousand steps in a day, fifteen, twenty, twenty five, thirty, etc) you will get a badge. Ditto for flights of stairs climbed (if you get a tracker that measures that) or weight lost (if you set a loss goal).
You can also have friends on Fitbit and it will keep updating weekly Leaderboards, showing your weekly steps against your friends'. If you have a competitive streak, this REALLY is a great feature.
Fitbit and MFP do sync - Fitbit has its own food database, but it's nowhere as good as MFP's, so if you connect the accounts MFP will send your caloric intake to Fitbit and Fitbit will send back how many exercise calories you have netted if you have that function set up.
(Note: the sync between the Fitbit and MFP servers is actually down right now)
Anyway, yes - I have it, I love it, I find it INCREDIBLY helpful as a daily activity level monitor, and my best friend just hit the "60 lbs lost" mark by combining MFP and Fitbit.
Good info, keep preaching!0 -
That would be great if the did replace it... wonder if you would have to buy one of those "insurance policies" every box store is pushing now?My husbnd and I got fitbits for Christmas last year. We wear them regularly and try to get our 10000 steps daily. I have found it motivating to wear it. It may not be precise to the calorie, but it does keep pretty good track of whether or not we have been moving or sitting around too much.
Mine is now defunct - it went through the washer and dryer I plan to replace it.
I have heard of people washing their Fitbits and getting a replacement from the company - worth a shot?0 -
I have a FitBit One and it has been very useful in helping me track my activity level. I think it’s pretty accurate but even if it’s not 100% correct it helps makes me more aware of my activity. It syncs well with MFP. It also tracks my steps on the elliptical.
I chose the FitBit One because I can clip it to my bra and nobody knows I’m wearing it. (Plus I didn’t want the wrist version to interfere with wearing my bracelets and watches.)
I’m very pleased with the device.
I thought about that, but honestly, some work that I do... especially in the Florida heat, the bra comes off whenever possible! Plus I fear that I wouldn't notice if it unclipped and fell off and out.0 -
I have a FitBit One and it has been very useful in helping me track my activity level. I think it’s pretty accurate but even if it’s not 100% correct it helps makes me more aware of my activity. It syncs well with MFP. It also tracks my steps on the elliptical.
I chose the FitBit One because I can clip it to my bra and nobody knows I’m wearing it. (Plus I didn’t want the wrist version to interfere with wearing my bracelets and watches.)
I’m very pleased with the device.
More aware of activity seems to be the running theme. (pun intended)0 -
I have the Fitbit Zip and after looking at all the other incarnations of Fitbit I still think it's my best choice. I've heard a lot of people say the wrist models over estimate your activities plus I tuck the Zip into my bra and no one has to even know I'm wearing it. It doesn't track sleep patterns or stairs climbed but those aren't things I really care about anyway. It synchs with MFP and the Fitbit site to the Dashboard, tells me how many steps I've taken and what it estimates my daily burned calories to be.
Over estimating activities is a concern. I wonder by how much? Hate to go a couple weeks eating and extra 400 calories a day and finding out that was incorrect.0 -
I have a FitBit One and it has been very useful in helping me track my activity level. I think it’s pretty accurate but even if it’s not 100% correct it helps makes me more aware of my activity. It syncs well with MFP. It also tracks my steps on the elliptical.
I chose the FitBit One because I can clip it to my bra and nobody knows I’m wearing it. (Plus I didn’t want the wrist version to interfere with wearing my bracelets and watches.)
I’m very pleased with the device.
I thought about that, but honestly, some work that I do... especially in the Florida heat, the bra comes off whenever possible! Plus I fear that I wouldn't notice if it unclipped and fell off and out.
You can clip it to your panties too - this is what I do when I'm wandering around post-shower!0 -
The Fitbit Force hasn't yet been released - I think they'll start shipping them within the next six weeks though.
I have a Fitbit One and I am sort of an evangelist about it. My mother has now lost an Ultra and three Ones (though the latest One has resurfaced!), so if you're prone to misplacing keys and the like, consider looking into the wristband style.
The Fitbit is more accurate than I was prepared to believe with regards to calculating BMR/TDEE. Faithfully logging everything you eat (calories in) and watching your daily caloric burn via Fitbit (calories out) is a great way to keep yourself on track.
The Fitbit goes in for gamification in a big way, so for every milestone you hit (10 thousand steps in a day, fifteen, twenty, twenty five, thirty, etc) you will get a badge. Ditto for flights of stairs climbed (if you get a tracker that measures that) or weight lost (if you set a loss goal).
You can also have friends on Fitbit and it will keep updating weekly Leaderboards, showing your weekly steps against your friends'. If you have a competitive streak, this REALLY is a great feature.
Fitbit and MFP do sync - Fitbit has its own food database, but it's nowhere as good as MFP's, so if you connect the accounts MFP will send your caloric intake to Fitbit and Fitbit will send back how many exercise calories you have netted if you have that function set up.
(Note: the sync between the Fitbit and MFP servers is actually down right now)
Anyway, yes - I have it, I love it, I find it INCREDIBLY helpful as a daily activity level monitor, and my best friend just hit the "60 lbs lost" mark by combining MFP and Fitbit.
Good info, keep preaching!
May I ask, is the sync between FitBit and MFP down often or is that rare occurrence?0 -
If you want an expensive pedometer then go for it. It doesn't measure biking calories and gets messed up if you wave your arm too much which means workouts in a class or dvd would not be measured correctly I don't see how it can be accurate at all. I'll take a hrm anyday over this. And if you have to log the stuff it doesn't work for manually, then really, what good is it unless all you do is walk?0
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I got one a few weeks back and am VERY disappointed that it does not track my ellipitical steps. I can't do treadmill due to bad knees and stress fractures in both feet. I also stopped wearing it at night as it was syncing to my iPhone multiple times at night and my phone would buzz and wake me. Also disappointed that it won't just log the sleep time and sync in the AM if I turn the phone off. I also feel it wildly overestimates calories burned. If I was buring HALF the calories it tells me I am, I would have met my goal weeks ago. Thinking about selling on eBay.
Sorry to hear this.
I wonder if some are just shipped defective? Did you try calling their Helpline about this?
.
.
Note to self: Stay away from Ebay for this item.0 -
I have a FitBit One and it has been very useful in helping me track my activity level. I think it’s pretty accurate but even if it’s not 100% correct it helps makes me more aware of my activity. It syncs well with MFP. It also tracks my steps on the elliptical.
I chose the FitBit One because I can clip it to my bra and nobody knows I’m wearing it. (Plus I didn’t want the wrist version to interfere with wearing my bracelets and watches.)
I’m very pleased with the device.
I thought about that, but honestly, some work that I do... especially in the Florida heat, the bra comes off whenever possible! Plus I fear that I wouldn't notice if it unclipped and fell off and out.
You can clip it to your panties too - this is what I do when I'm wandering around post-shower!
Lol - that didn't even occur to me.0 -
I sometimes clip mine to my blouse when I want to check my steps regularly without digging down in my bra. The clip is pretty tight and it has never fell off. I do worry about forgetting to take it off and it ending up in the washer.0
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I've had two Fitbits, the original and the One. If I have the money I would consider getting the latest wrist version. They're fun, but not essential. A vigorous, committed exerciser probably would get less use out of one then someone who is trying to stay consistent at a lower level.0
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May I ask, is the sync between FitBit and MFP down often or is that rare occurrence?
This is the second time I've been aware of since I got my Fitbit in May-ish.0 -
If you want an expensive pedometer then go for it. It doesn't measure biking calories and gets messed up if you wave your arm too much which means workouts in a class or dvd would not be measured correctly I don't see how it can be accurate at all. I'll take a hrm anyday over this. And if you have to log the stuff it doesn't work for manually, then really, what good is it unless all you do is walk?
That's why I'm trying to get more info.
I guess I should have made it a bit clearer in my OP.
Doc says now to start eating 500 calories per day, PLUS the amount of calories I burn daily. I can calculate Running/minutes and Swimming/minutes easily. The problem I have is knowing exactly how many calories I burn when I am out back doing inconsistent activities, like gardening... Shoveling, Digging, Hauling etc. It's very hard to calculate. I need something to make it easier to plan my calorie intake more precisely with less error.0 -
May I ask, is the sync between FitBit and MFP down often or is that rare occurrence?
This is the second time I've been aware of since I got my Fitbit in May-ish.
That's good to hear, thank you.0 -
Hi K.M.-
I recently joined MFP and got a Fitbit Force about a week ago. A work colleague had been using a Fitbit tracker and lost close to 30 lbs with it, but lost it when the clip broke. I went to my BestBuy and they weren't yet on display, but were recorded in the computer, so the salesperson was able to get one for me.
I'm very happy that I got the Fitbit Force because it does add the additional calories I can consume due to exercise (which is the feature you're very interested in). I only wish I had gotten on the MFP and Fitbit bandwagon sooner!
Setup was easy and walks you through it. I am using both the MFP app and the FitBit app on my phone and tablet. Bluetooth is kept on, so that the Fitbit Forces synchronizes with the app and keeps current the number of steps take, calories etc.
I did it via the MFP app by clicking on More | Connect My Fitness Pal | Get Started. I then selected Fitbit Tracker and clicked on the green "Connect" button. Once you connect the accounts, you do all your food logging in MFP, NOT in FitBit. You can check stats in Fitbit and set alarms - the Force has a vibrate alarm, which is a pleasant alternative to a clock radio.
I have the fitness rating set to 'sedentary." I haven't used any other fitness monitors before this, but I find I am much more aware of my daily exercise and walking levels. Since I live/work in an urban environment, I have no problem reaching the daily target. I agree with @FollowingSea's assessment of how accurate the calculations are
It took a bit of practice in getting it on and off. I also forgot to set the Fitbit to record when I go to sleep (press the Forge button 2x), but those are my only issues. Hope this info helps you!0 -
If you want an expensive pedometer then go for it. It doesn't measure biking calories and gets messed up if you wave your arm too much which means workouts in a class or dvd would not be measured correctly I don't see how it can be accurate at all. I'll take a hrm anyday over this. And if you have to log the stuff it doesn't work for manually, then really, what good is it unless all you do is walk?
It really depends on your fitness profile. I have both a Fitbit and a HRM, and the focus is really different for each.
For me, I get more use out of my Fitbit, since I am not quite as dedicated as I ought to be when it comes to maintaining a workout regimen. The Fitbit keeps me accountable all day, though, and has been invaluable in helping me figure out exactly how active I am and what my TDEE really is on a day-to-day basis (I've had days recently where it was basically my BMR, and days where it was more than double). It's really more of a daily activity level monitor.
The HRM is for monitoring your burn during a specific workout. You can use them in conjunction - as you point out, the Fitbit won't tell you jack about a biking workout, but if you have the numbers from your HRM you can plug that into your Fitbit as an additional exercise you did.
If you don't have the money for both, then it really comes down to "which is more useful for me" -- something that will tell you how active you are throughout the day, or something that will tell you what you did in a specific 30 (60, 90) minute timeframe. For me, it's definitely the former. For you, it sounds like the latter.0 -
What is the reason for the doctor putting you on 500 calories per day? (plus exercise calories)
To answer your question:
I have the Flex and chose this one because it is waterproof.0
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